In May this year Dr Zahid Shafi Ansari was in a remote region in Chad, Africa offering his services in a village where the reach of healthcare is limited. This is his experience on assignment with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

I spent a month on Chad’s fringes as a medical doctor, and I have never seen a situation as severe as this. Tissi village is situated on the country’s porous border with Sudan and Central African Republic. Only bare medical facilities exist to battle a host of diseases assailing its people. The government hospital supported by MSF where I worked was one such centre. It’s the only brick and concrete structure in the area. The centre sees patients and their concerned relatives coming in with hope, some having walked 7-9 hours to reach there.  Malaria, malnutrition and diabetes though are frequent unwanted visitors too.

Tough circumstances

The dry season was about to end when I was there. In its trail were scorching temperatures, a parched river bed and shortage of foodgrains. I remember packages of ration being distributed as a relief measure; malnourished children being taken into busy wards; their mothers being admitted at times as well.

I want to explain the last point. At first I was distressed to see the state of some of the children — wondered why their mothers were not being able to follow the prescribed treatment. I, however, realised after a discussion with a colleague that I knew little about the prevailing situation. Overwhelmed by weakness, the mothers were not being able to correctly administer medicines to their infants. This led to medical complications. The women therefore needed to be looked after by us.

The importance of medical intervention

These were not the only instances when I visibly saw the importance of medical intervention. Animal bites, a recurrent problem, deformed lives due to lack of specialist care. In other words, there were times when patients consulted us after the infection had spread or their bones had been damaged.

There is another side too. As a medical doctor, the lack of resources pushes one to do more. Making do with the available facilities is the only option, and you have to improvise, think quickly and give your best so that the patient gets a chance to lead a normal life. From what I have seen, this demands remarkable dedication from medical professionals. The learning, however, is truly one which no other experience can offer. It stays with you.

A day I will never forget

I have been inspired by the staff that worked at the Tissi hospital. One day particularly stands out in my memory, which I want to share with you. As I approached the hospital for my shift, I saw two trucks parked outside with gun-wielding men cautiously guarding them. My first reaction was that of fear as I had not seen something like this before.

At the time, there were only two doctors and a nurse in the hospital (more of my co-workers were called in soon). I estimate that at least 20 wounded people were brought in the trucks after a conflict situation. I could feel the tension in the air.

I remember one of my colleagues — a midwife – courageously standing up against the armed men to explain to them MSF’s ‘No Weapons’ policy. I was scared for her. Yet it was she who convinced them and after a while they deposited their guns in one of the trucks.

Relieved, all trained hands pitched in to tide over the circumstance in the hospital. My team’s motivation was nothing short of infectious that day.

Why I joined MSF

My faith in the decision to work for MSF is reinstilled every time I come across the best of medical professionals who are willing to go on assignments. My colleagues in Tissi were an example of this. These people represent a broad spectrum – from the most experienced who have spent years bettering the lives of others to the young who want to prove themselves and possess the drive to do this.

This realisation encourages me in carrying out my regular duties. Apart from being a doctor, I work in the Human Resource department at MSF. I joined at the age of 42, after spending years in the private sector. Personally, I had always felt that my contribution could be more than I was being able to make.

My father’s words are an apt reflection of how I feel now. “Khidmat-e-Khalq” (service to humanity), he taught me, and I became a doctor. Isn’t this relevant even today? At a time when there are acute needs to be met? That is why I’m reaching out to you.

Zahid Shafi Ansari was in Chad for a month. This was his first MSF assignment in the capacity of a medical doctor. He has been working as a Human Resource Officer (HRO) at the New Delhi-based MSF India office since the past two years.